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Young People and Suicide: Safeguarding your Students against Suicide

Expanding the Safety Net: Proceedings from an Expert Panel on Vulnerability, Depressive Symptoms, and Suicidal Behavior on College Campuses

Download Report (pdf) Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college-age students, with an estimated 1,088 occurring on campuses each year. M.I.T. and other universities have contended with lawsuits related to on-campus suicides and the services these institutions provide to students at risk.

In 2001, the Surgeon General released the first national suicide prevention strategy. As a follow up, Mental Health America and The Jed Foundation convened a panel of leading experts, Expanding the Safety Net: A Roundtable on Vulnerability, Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Behavior.

The report based on this roundtable was recently sent to more than 3,000 universities, and provides checklists and action plans to help administrators assess their campuses’ mental health needs in an effort to open a dialogue between universities, communities and mental health experts about this important issue.

Report highlights

Evaluation of the current research

Overview of at-risk students

Description of services necessary to address suicidal behaviors on campuses

Checklist for administrators to evaluate current programs and identify their campus’s needs

A call to action for administrators, campus communities and parents and families

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).